Pastor John,
What does the word “Zion mean”?
Leika
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Hi Leika.
The original meaning of the word, “Zion”, is unknown. It appears at times to be associated with fish or fish nets, figurative or otherwise (e.g., Eccl. 9:12; Ezek. 12:13; 19:9), and at other times to mean something like “stronghold” (e.g., 1Sam. 22:4; 2Sam. 5:7).
In time, especially in Psalms and the prophets, the small area within the very ancient city of Jerusalem that was known as “Zion” became synonymous with Jerusalem itself e.g., Ps. 48:12; 51:18). And the term “Zion” is also used in Psalms and the prophets as a prophetic reference to the assembly of God’s people, or even to the people them selves (e.g., Ps. 74:2; 87:5; Isa. 60:14; 62:1-2).
Pastor John